WorldStage Newsonline– The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentence of three internet fraudsters before Justice D.I.Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts are: Shodeinde Taiwo Samuel, Oyetunde Eniola Ayomide and Akinola Samuel Bolutife.
They are among the 93 suspected fraudsters arrested in a sting operation on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at a hotel within the precincts of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
They were arraigned on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, on a one-count charge bordering on impersonation, identity and internet fraud.
The charge against Samuel reads: “COUNT 1 That you Shodeinde Taiwo Oladipupo Samuel on or about the 10% August, 2025. within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and with intent to gain advantage, held out yourself as “Andy Dante”, a female foreign national through Facebook Account to unsuspecting members of the public, wherein you gain financial benefit to yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition Prevention etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015.”
The charge against Ayomide reads: ”That you, Oyetunde Eniola Ayomide (a.k.a ‘Jessicabrowns’), sometime in January, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession a “Tit tok Account titled: ‘jessicabrown” wherein you fraudulently represented yourself as ‘Jessica Brown’ a White Female to one Jason Duke through your TikTok account, which is connected to your IphoneX 11 with no: 09010295681 with intent to gain advantage for yourself contrary to S. 22(2) (b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under S. 22(2b) (iv) of the same law.”
The charge against Bolutife reads: “That you, Akinola Samuel Bolutife, (Male) sometime in 2025 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently held out yourself on Telegram as Mabella Smith, with intention to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishment Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015.”
They pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel, I.G.Akhanolu, Ayanfe Olowonihi and M.S.Yabo, called on AbangArmstrong Bisong and Umar Abbah Giade, who are operatives of the EFCC, to review the facts of the cases.
The prosecution counsel, thereafter, respectively sought to tender, in evidence, the extra-judicial statements of the defendants; the iPhone 14 and a Samsung phone recovered from Samuel, the N250,000 manager’s cheque issued by him; the iPhone 11 recovered from Ayomide; the iPhone 6 pro recovered from Bolutife and the N45,000 manager’s cheque issued as restitution by him as well as the forensic investigation documents printed from their mobile devices.
They were all admitted as exhibits by the court.
The judge, in view of the defendants’ guilty pleas and evidence tendered by the prosecution, found them guilty and convicted them accordingly.
The defence counsel, A.A. Okoli and J. Jacob, passionately prayed the court to “temper justice with mercy,” and grant their clients non- custodial sentences, adding that they were first-time offenders who have shown remorse.
Delivering judgment, Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Samuel, who confessed to have benefitted $200, to three months imprisonment from the day of arrest , with the option of a N300,000 fine.
The judge also ordered his mobile devices as well as the 250,000 manager’s cheque issued by him to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Dipeolu ordered Ayomide to pay a N50,000 fine. The judge also ordered his iPhone 11 forfeited to the Deji Adeyanju rejects Obi, vows to vote Tinubu in 2027 if ADC fields him
Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has said his vote would go to President Bola Tinubu if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition decides to put forth the presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, as its flag bearer come 2027.
Adeyanju made the remark on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, when asked whether he was trying to discredit Obi.
“God forbid that I support APC. If the opposition presents Peter Obi, I will vote for Tinubu,” he said
Obi and Adeyanju’s feud recently shifted to the courtroom after the 64-year-old politician, through his legal team, threatened to sue the activist over publishing defamatory statements on social media and in interview.
Adeyanju dismissed the notice, expressing eagerness to face Obi in court.
The activist accused Obi of encouraging an unfriendly political culture, pointing to the behaviour of some of the ”Obidient” supporters on social media.
He said, “We cannot have a man who leads a mob that terrorises people online and cannot tolerate criticism, who calls people all sorts of names. Anybody who cannot support their candidate is seen as an enemy of Nigeria or has been paid to do so. That is not democracy.
Adeyanju also questioned Obi’s democratic credentials, saying he has not made the kinds of sacrifices others have for Nigeria’s democratic survival.
“What sacrifices has he made for democracy? Many of us have put our lives on the line at great personal cost. We must sanitise our polity. We cannot have a country where people who terrorise others online dictate the tone of political discourse,” he argued.
While reflecting on his voting history, he stated that he has always stood behind what he considered credible candidates. “In my opinion, I have never voted for a bad candidate. In 1999, I voted for Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2011, I voted for Goodluck Jonathan. In 2015, I voted for Jonathan again, against the so-called lovers of democracy who wanted Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
